For Emme, Baked with Love

For Emme, Baked with Love — page 5 — Her mom’s parents owned a Japanese restaurant and her dad’s first job was as their busboy Kamiko and Charlie had been together ever since actually since they were just a few years older than Emme’s age now Weird But if there was one thing in the entire universe that did make sense it was dessert Sure Emme had her best friends Lizzie and Trish but Emme’s first love was sweet stuff cookies candy and all things sugary In the mixed-up crazy universe of Emme Remmers dessert was a bona fide food group She had to get a closer look at that bakery Looking both ways Emme ran across the street toward the shop She pressed her nose to the window and peered inside through an enormous rip in the brown paper that covered it Were people in there Was that music playing Emme felt a deep drumbeat through the glass Inside was a whole world of vintage posters antique display cases and little pink and white lights strung all over Someone had transformed this boring old hardware store seemingly overnight Through the rip in the paper Emme spied round and square wooden tables already set up for customers each one decorated with a different brightly colored tablecloth An enormous chalkboard had been hung behind one of the glass cases on a side wall Painted at the top was Try One Or Two

For Emme, Baked with Love — page 6 — Below this was a wide blank space that Emme guessed was for the daily list of baked goods Her tummy rumbled loudly at the notion of all that wonderful butter and sugar and glazed everything that would soon be for sale She could spend an entire year’s allowance here no problem All at once the door to the bakery burst open with a loud squeak A rush of warm air swirled around Emme like a hug Mmmmmm Warm cookie smell Nothing better A man flew out with boxes in his arms Whoa he yelped balancing the boxes on his wide hip while he fished in his pocket Didn’t see you there kiddo In that moment Emme could smell the cookies and so many more things coming from inside caramel and strawberry and roasted almonds and chocolate And now energetic music poured out of the bakery door too in a river of sound The notes lifted up and out onto the pavement twangy guitars and bass drums Someone inside was wailing along with the song For a brief moment she felt like the bakery was literally calling out to her in every way that it could begging her to come see listen and especially taste You like cake the man asked His apron which was covered with stains and flour had the name Carlos printed on the front There was even flour dusting his salt and pepper tuft of hair

For Emme, Baked with Love — page 7 — Who doesn’t like cake Emme answered with a meek shrug Well Daisy always says people don’t eat enough cake We open tomorrow officially by the way Carlos said grinning Whatever you do don’t miss the apple bars Daisy’s food is pure magic baked love What’s baked love Emme giggled You’ll know when you taste it Carlos said and laughed And when you meet Daisy It’s like this place just appeared overnight Emme said Last time I looked there were saws and hammers on display Magic everywhere I’ll tell ya Carlos said winking We’d been planning for a long time and then Daisy found this perfect location available right here in the middle of everything Now we’re installing ovens tables cabinets It’s going to be a special spot Carlos said He headed off down the block boxes perched high on his shoulder Come to the opening tomorrow he called back Emme’s stomach rumbled again at the idea of magic cake Who could resist something called baked love Not Emme She could use some extra love right about now Things at home had been a little tense When she peered inside the shop again Emme’s eyes fell upon an enormous clock mounted to the wall It was as large as a window The clock read

For Emme, Baked with Love — page 8 — eight-thirty Oh no How had it gotten so late Emme was going to miss the first bell at school She slung her bag back over her shoulder and speed-walked the four blocks over to PS 33 on the corner of 7th Luckily a handful of other kids were just making it up the steps in time for the second bell like she was Emme slipped quietly into her seat in the auditorium unnoticed Each morning all the classes gathered in the assembly room and waited for the teachers to come and collect their students But once a week there was a faculty meeting so the kids could count on the teachers being a little late those days Lucky for Emme today’s meeting seemed to be running extra long She could daydream for a little bit and she wouldn’t even get a late slip I’m so glad you’re here finally Lizzie said sneaking into the seat next to Emme She flipped her blond curly bob Did you finish the English homework Because I didn’t understand anything and I swear that math test next week is going to be impossible don’t you think I guess Emme mumbled her mind in a cloud of powdered sugar and chocolate frosting Lizzie leaned in and cocked her head I swear sometimes I think I could just die we get so much homework Emme Are you even listening Emme was always listening of course

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